Welcoming fall

I think there should be a song about welcomg fall just like there is a May Day one. That only seems fare right? Well maybe I will take it upon myself to do just that. Dream a fall tune.

Today DJ and I were very busy! We enjoyed church and then came home and did some much needed house straigtening and tidying. We threw open the windows and let all that fresh air in. It is so beautiful to have that lovely warm, crisp air flaoting into your house. It feels dreamy. Just perfect. 

I was so excited to finish my fall wreath. What do you think? Don't you just love the little scarecrow fellow? That was DJ's idea and honestly, I think he makes it. So adorable. 

Besides wreath making DJ also felt up to drilling some holes so I could hang up my new window panels. he's been sick with a pretty awful cold but look!! I think hes doing better.... Don't you think? 

 It took an hour of ironing to get those cotton drapes all in order but boy did they look nice once they were hung up. Such a lovely moody colored blue. Deep, rich turqouise. Makes me so excited that everything is coming together as it should. Yay!!

What did you celebrate your first day of fall doing? 

Settling in

The weather is fair, the day is long and payday was Friday. So that means that today is a good shopping day and that's exactly what I did.

Since we moved into to our house back in May I've taken my time decorating. I've been picky about my choices because I want good quality stuff. Of course that means there is quite a bit of DIY projects and elbow grease. I have quite a few projects underway at once which keeps my busy mind from getting bored with just one. Besides... There are so many sales right now from all the summer stuff so nows the time to score big time. 

So today I found window panels, a lamp shade and pillows for my living room. I'm so excited. Every bit closer to almost having a functioning living room. A cozy one that is. I'm all about cozy and it's almost there. Almost. 

What's your weekend plans? 

Shining

When I was growing up I really didn't get a good idea about what sin actually was. I didn't see drinking or domestic violence. I didn't hear profanity or watch people hurt each other on purpose. I was sort of immune to it. I couldn't imagine that kind of life.

One day that all changed. One day I realized that sin even in my loving family was possible. My father had an affair and everything turned upside down. Now I was the family who was touched by sin. We were ridiculed, tested, abandoned, and ignored. Every pastor we reached out to in a way to console our shaken world slouched back unable to help. I felt like they looked at us as a problem. Kids from a divorced family. What kind of issues do they have? Well it's not going to be MY problem. Look, I already have a church full of problem people. My heart sank as I realized that even after all the years of being that pastors best friend, doing ministry alongside their kids, attending their Bible studies... That now, I was in fact different from them. An isolation crept in and I started to believe the lies that I was garbage now because of my father's sin. I remember feeling so close to the down trodden. Those locked away, abandoned, unloved and disrespected. All because of "my" apparent sin or connection to it. I must have had a wrong way of thinking, something unBiblical must be going on in my home for this to happen and on and on the mental clatter went.

So I set out on my own personal mission. I wanted to find those hurting, unlovable, discredited people in my path and show them the light and love of Jesus. I realized that I wasn't there to show them the right way, or to explain discipline and obedience or even given them the salvation story. I just wanted them to know that there was no such thing as a nobody to me OR to God. That yes, they can have tattoos, be strippers in gentalmen's clubs, reek of profanity and drink like a fish but I was going to show them their worth and value through a God that spent years honing mine in me.

It wasn't long before the hardness disappeared, the profanity became less frequent and those late night drinking binges became more of a chore then an escape. They would ask me puzzled why they were changing. Why could they, someone who has always been a certain way change. At first they blamed their age. I'm just getting to old for this junk. Then they'd blame their significant other. I guess it's not so ladylike when I swear like a sailor. Or they'd blame their kids. Well, I'd be just sick if I heard that come out of their mouths. I've got to change. Some of them would even blame me. it's because of YOU I'm not doing any of these things. Whoa! 

Each of us carry in us the spirit of God. We each were born with a right and wrong receptor. That's God. After a while when we ignore that inner voice we ignore God and our relationship with Him begins to fade and so does our message. That doesn't mean we can't get it back, but we just have to work harder at it. 

See it wasn't me they had to blame for their change. Change was already inevitable in their hearts because God had a plan for them. Instead of ignoring their changes I encouraged them to explore their hearts on the matter and ask God what was happening. They'd look at me astonished. "I can't talk to GOD! What are you crazy? I haven't talked to God since I was in Sunday school. I'm too far gone to talk to God. He wont answer me anyway?" They always left that sentence with a question. They wanted to hear from Him. Everything else didn't work. The boos, the drugs, the sex, the work, the palm readers. 

Try it I said. What do you have to lose? "But HOW?" Talk to Him like you are talking to me right now. He hears you. He knows you. He wants to talk to you. "He KNOWS me?" Sure He does!! "Then He's not going to like me." Says who? Thats the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Just talk to Him. Ask Him a question. Tell Him about your hurt. Then just wait. You'll hear Him. Then I'd walk away. 

It's amazing what happens when people start to hear God's voice. A lightness comes all over them. A skip in their step removes the pessimism of the pressure from their peers, joy fills the sorrow. Holes became whole. I don't have to pin point the ugly in their life. The sin. The inconsistencies. God does all of that. And you can see Him working. 

See. Sometimes me make bringing people to God so laborous. We forget that if we just get out of the way of ourselves He can do all the work and take all the glory. That's what you want isn't it?

Remember. He loved you at your darkest. Romans 5:8. The greatest gift you could possibly receive is unconditional love. The greatest gift you could give is unconditional love. Show Jesus' love today. You might be surprised by what happens.

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Simple things

I love that one quote that says that everything starts fresh in the fall. There is something truly redeeming about that phrase. Some people, myself included enjoy having the ability to start fresh. Not just January 1st or when the spring bulbs bloom or when they hit their birthday. With fall there is a dying to all the old things and getting excited about reinventing and rejuvenating yourself over that long winter to better prapare yourself for all that lies ahead.

DJ and I took a walk around the lake that is just a few blocks away from our house the other night. Most of the time walking makes me very contemplative which can be a good or bad thing depending on what mood I'm in. I was thinking about all the changes we've under gone both personally and together as a couple this last year and it sort of blew my mind. Newly married, change of jobs (both), move to a completely different city (both), family crisis (for DJ), learning to trust in God's plan (both) and basically just trying to get accustomed to a new pace of life. I've written about changes before in my other blog and how different people handle them in different ways. I would say that we are still learning about what it is to understand God's plan and what the change factor really means and how faith corresponds with that.

So as we walked and talked and I was contemplating that and we were talking about change in ourselves I noticed this huge grouping of yellow daisies. The sun shone on them so perfectly and honestly I couldn't have been more grateful when I heard the Lord speak to my heart and say, "But I NEVER change." He is right. He doesn't. I don't know what I would do if He did. He is always constant, true, loving and worthy of praise. Thank you Father for reminding me that your love is never failing. 

Sometimes, it's the simple things that remind you that life and all its changes foesn't have to be bad or hard or scarry. It can be good and thatthey are learning opportunities God gives you to learn about yourself, Him and help other people. So instead of looking at changes as a chore I'm going to look at them as a way to better my outlook on life. Sounds much more fun. Don't you think? 

Enjoying sister time

I have two younger sisters. I love them and with our ups and down through the years as a family we have still come out as best friends. They are the first people I call with good news and bad news... Aside from my husband of course! :-D  So imagine my delight when I was able to snag my youngest sister for a whole week and show her around Minneapolis! She's looking at going to college at Northwestern University in Roseville. Just a half hour drive from me.

So this week we are shopping, doing alot of eating and just enjoying down time. Here's a few of our shinanigans so far. 

Beer and to-die-for burgers at Red Cow in Edina. Mmm!!

Ice cream at the old fashioned ice cream shop at the Creamery in Nokomis!

Trying to choose a flavor is so hard and I like to be adventerous and try new flavors every time. Tonight I settled on Black Hills Gold. Oh my goodness. It's my new favorite! :-) 

Here's Ashley enjoying her waffle cone! Mmm! Nummy! Can't wait to see what tonight will bring. :-)